LRT-1 Cavite Extension clears right-of-way hurdle

The Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 Cavite Extension project has cleared a major right-of-way hurdle as the Villar family has agreed to donate the land needed for construction, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said Thursday.

Lopez clarified that recent reports regarding right-of-way disputes involving the Villar property were inaccurate.

“As a matter of fact, the Villar family wants to donate their land,” Lopez said, noting that the contribution resolves a key bottleneck delaying the rail project’s expansion.

With the land acquisition issue addressed, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) is shifting its focus to engineering challenges along the alignment, including the potential dismantling of the C-5 Quirino flyover to make room for construction.

“There are also suggestions on whether that flyover should be removed. However, if we do that — if we remove it — I said we first need to conduct a traffic study,” Lopez said.

Authorities are also evaluating whether the flyover can remain intact while accommodating the elevated railway structure, he added.

The Light Rail Transit Authority remains committed to completing the full LRT-1 Cavite Extension by 2028.

Phase 1 of the project is already operational, extending service from Baclaran Station in Pasay City to Dr. Santos Station in Parañaque City across five new stations: Redemptorist-ASEANA, MIA Road, PITX, Ninoy Aquino Avenue and Dr. Santos.

The remaining phases will extend the line south through Las Piñas, Zapote and Niog stations in Cavite, linking the southern suburban corridor directly to Metro Manila’s primary light rail transit network.